Native American Veterans Outreach
Vietnam veteran Ray Perry from the Navajo Nation saw a need to contact the Native American veterans-of-foreign wars on a group basis for they needed comradeship, support and biblical counseling for veterans who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Ray says, “The Creator's words from the Scared Book ( Bible), speaks to the hearts and minds of the veterans. The word of God gives directions and delivers them from their bondages!
According to the Readjustment Counseling Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 26% of the Native American veterans are suffering form PTSD. Per the Disabled American Veterans National Service Program (DAV), PTSD is defined as, “The emotional damage that can occur form suffering an event where one's life or the lives of others, emotionally close to one, have survived frightening events”. It is called post traumatic stress disorder by mental health professionals.
PTSDs have “tension triggers,” which hurls the combat veterans back into their war experiences. For example, a loud noise from a car backfiring or the sound of diesel trucks and their exhausts can trigger a past war experience. Also the whumping sounds of helicopters and people appearing out of nowhere can startle veterans. The irony of this is, as the veterans increase in age; the PTSD syndrome intensifies within their minds and hearts.
Not all veterans suffer form from PTSD, however, those who do have deep emotional scarring need help. For that reason the Native American Veterans Rally, a veterans outreach ministry- had formulated to come along side the Vets and become a support group for them and their families. It is a veteran-to-veteran ministry.
The Native American Veterans Rally or crusade are military in nature. It is an assembly area for the vets. If you were to visit a rally, you would think that you are on a military base, for you will see banners and hear band music that military personnel march to at formal parade grounds or boot camp training. Also the “Posting of the Colors” are the order of the day…before the rally begins. The whole proceedings are contextualized for the veterans.
At the rally, veterans come together with comraderies…for it is like a family reunion.
Some come to the rally wearing their award medals and others still fit in their military uniforms. Others wear military ball caps. The chapel services begins with praise and worship, and sermon presentations are contextualized for the veterans using their military jargons, to illustrate biblical scriptures for emphases.
Ray Perry served in the United States Navy from 1960- 1965. He served aboard a naval destroyer, the USS Duncan (DDR-874), which was dispatched to the Tonkin Gulf that is off the coast of Vietnam. The Duncan operated with a carrier task force, supporting the U.S. armed forces in Vietnam (in country). Ray became a believer in the Creator's Son, Jesus Christ, in 1974. He is a trainer biblical counselor and teacher.
For more information about veterans' ministry, contact Ray Perry at (505) 899-8931 or email:
rocksaltray@aol.com
Veteran's Page
Creator Connection Ministries
